Glossary

A

Amalgam – Material made from mercury and other alloy mixtures used to restore a drilled portion of a tooth.Anesthesia – Medications used to relieve pain.Anterior teeth – Front teeth. Also called incisors and cuspids.Arch – The upper or lower jaw.back to top

B

Baby bottle tooth decay – Caused by sugary substances in breast milk and some juices, which combine with saliva to form pools inside the baby’s mouth.Bicuspids -A premolar tooth; tooth with two cusps, which are pointed or rounded eminences on or near the masticating surface of a tooth.Bitewings – X-rays that help a dentist diagnose cavities.Bonding – Application of tooth-colored resin materials to the surface of the teeth.Bridge – A prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or otherwise attached to the abutment teeth or implant replacements.Bruxism – Teeth grinding.back to top

C

Calculus – A hard deposit of mineralized substance adhering to crowns and/or roots of teeth or prosthetic devices.Canal – The narrow chamber inside the tooth’s root.Canines – Also called cuspids.Canker sore – One that occurs on the delicate tissues inside your mouth. A canker sore is usually light-colored at its base and can have a red exterior border.Caries – A commonly used term for tooth decay, or cavities.Cold sore – Usually occurs on the outside of the mouth, usually on or near the nose or lips. A cold sore is contagious because it is caused by the herpes simplex virus, and it is usually painful and filled with fluid.Composite filling – Tooth colored restorations, also known as resin fillings.Composite resin – A tooth colored resin combined with silica or porcelain and used as a restoration material.Contouring – The process of reshaping teeth.Crown – An artificial tooth replacement that restores missing tooth structure by surrounding the remaining coronal tooth structure. It is also placed on a dental implant.Cusps – The pointed parts on top of the back teeth’s chewing surface.Cuspids – Front teeth that typically have a protruding edge.back to top

D

Dentin – The tooth layer underneath the enamel.Denture – A removable set of teeth.back to top

E

Endodontics – A form of dentistry that addresses problems affecting the tooth’s root or nerve.back to top

F

Fluoride – A harmless over-exposure to fluoride resulting in tooth discoloration.Fluorosis – A harmless over-exposure to fluoride and resulting sometimes in tooth discoloration.back to top

G

Gingiva – Another word for gum tissue.Gingivitis – A minor disease of the gums caused by plaque.Gum disease – An infection of the gum tissues. Also called periodontal disease.back to top

I

Impacted teeth – A condition in which a tooth fails to erupt or only partially erupts.Implant – A permanent appliance used to replace a missing tooth.Incisor – Front teeth with cutting edges; located in the center or on the sides near the front.Inlay – An artificial filling made of various materials, including porcelain, resin, or gold.back to top

L

Laminate veneer – A shell that is bonded to the enamel of a front tooth. The shell is usually thin and made from porcelain resin.back to top

M

Malocclusion – Bad bite relationship.Mandible – The lower jaw.Maxilla – The upper jaw.Molar – Usually the largest teeth, near the rear of the mouth. Molars have large chewing surfaces.back to top

N

Neuromuscular Dentistry – Addresses more than the aches and pains felt in and around the neck and head that are associated with your teeth and jaw.

O

Onlay – A filling designed to protect the chewing surface of a tooth.Orthodontics – A field of dentistry that deals with tooth and jaw alignment.Overdenture – A non-fixed dental appliance applied to a small number of natural teeth or implants.back to top

P

Palate – Roof of the mouth.Partial denture – A removable appliance that replaces missing teeth.Pediatric Dentistry – A field of dentistry that deals with children’s teethPerio pocket – An opening formed by receding gums.Periodontal disease – Infection of the gum tissues. Also called gum disease.Periodontist – A dentist who treats diseases of the gums.Permanent teeth – The teeth that erupt after primary teeth. Also called adult teeth.Plaque – A sticky, colorless substance that covers the teeth after sleep or periods between brushing.Posterior teeth – The bicuspids and molars. Also called the back teeth.Primary teeth – A person’s first set of teeth. Also called baby teeth or temporary teeth.Prophylaxis – The act of cleaning the teeth.Prosthodontics – The field of dentistry that deals with artificial dental appliances.Pulp – The inner tissues of the tooth containing blood, nerves and connective tissue.back to top

R

Receding gum – A condition in which the gums separate from the tooth, allowing bacteria and other substances to attack the tooth’s enamel and surrounding bone.Resin filling – An artificial filling used to restore teeth. Also called a composite filling.Root canal – A procedure in which a tooth’s nerve is removed and an inner canal cleansed and later filled.Root planing – Scraping or cleansing of teeth to remove heavy buildup of tartar below the gum line.back to top

S

Sealant – A synthetic material placed on the tooth’s surface that protects the enamel and chewing surfaces.back to top

T

TMJ – Temporomandibular joint disorder. Health problems related to the jaw joint just in front of the ear.Tarter – A hardened substance (also called calculus) that sticks to the tooth’s surface.back to top